12 Best Windows 10X Features You Should Know

Jan. 21, 2021

While Windows 10X is not packed with features, it has caught the attention of many power users because of the visual changes it brings to the Windows operating system. It further gives a glimpse of where Microsoft is heading and what the newSun Valleyupdate will look like onWindows 10. So if you are debatinginstalling Windows 10X on a PC, then this is the article for you. Here, we bring you the 12 best Windows 10X features, including some well-known tidbits and hidden features. On that note, let’s go ahead and learn about the new Windows 10X features.

We have covered everything in this article, from UI-related features to app support and some core fundamentals that make Windows 10X what it is. You can move to any section by clicking on the links below.

Among the best features of Windows 10X, the App Launcher is the most highlighted UI change. Windows 10X has foregone its old Start Menu which has been part of Windows operating systems for many years. The new App Launcher iscentered and prioritizes web apps, UWPs and best of all, shows recent files for quick access.

There is also asearch barthat can pull results from your apps, local storage, Settings, and the web. It’s hard to not see the similarity between Chrome OS and Windows 10X launcher. Both are just about the same. Apart from that, keep in mind, there is no support for live tiles or app folders and currently, it does not feature a voice assistant.

WhileWindows 10 is a feature-packed OS, no one can deny that it lacks modern UI touches like smooth animations and transition effects. But that is not the case with Windows 10X. It’s quite polished andfeatures animations for various UI elements.

For example, if you open an app from the taskbar, the app fades in as if you are pushing a physical button. It gives a satisfying feeling. Similarly, when you minimize a window, there is abouncing animation. Apart from that, when you switch between apps, the transition is much smoother and does not feel clunky.

Windows 10X brings a new boot animation and sound which is pretty modern and I think many will like it. Having said that, keep in mind,the boot animation has a white backgroundwhich can be very stressful to the eyes if you are booting the OS in a dark environment. Perhaps, before the final version, Microsoft can add a dark background that can go along with the dark theme.

For me, the new Quick Settings panel is the best feature of Windows 10X. It’s a leaf taken straight out of Android/Chrome OS UI and it looks so much better. You have gottiles for WiFi, Bluetooth, casting, DND, Airplane Mode, Location, Ease of Access, and lastly, Battery Saver mode.

Currently, you can’t edit the QS panel and add your own tile, but the default one covers all the bases. I like the fact that you canexpand the WiFi or Bluetooth menuand connect to a network/device within the QS panel. No need to jump through multiple hoops and Settings page. And the Quick Settings panel is fast, much faster than Windows 10.

The Action Center on Windows 10 is cool and does the job decently well, but let’s be frank, it’s slow to respond and sometimes does not open up. On the other hand, the notification handling on Windows 10X is far superior featuring a clean UI andactionable buttons.

The notifications sit on top of the Quick Settings panel and allow you to clear the pending notifications in one click. You can evencustomize alerts from certain apps. It does not come with advanced features like notification channels, but we can expect that it will get new features in a later release.

It might come as a surprise but Windows 10X does not have support for window resizing. You can’t resize a window to a custom size which is surely a bummer. But don’t be disappointed, you can stillwork with two windows side by side. Just hold a window and drag it to the left and it will be docked to the left side. Now, choose the app for the right side and it will be docked to the right. In my experience, it worked quite well and almost all the apps supported Window Snapping.

I know not many are happy with Windows 10’s barebonesfile manager, but believe me, it has gone through a lot of improvements. The UI is polished and you can access all your Downloads, OneDrive files, documents — all in one place. Sure, you stillcan’t pin folders to the left pane, but I hope the feature will be added later.

Having said that, keep in mind, the earlier build of Windows 10X was compatible with legacy Win32 apps and we even installedGoogle Chrome, VLC, and IrfanView on 10X. Perhaps due to battery drain or performance issues, Microsoft has pulled the plug for now. However, withbetter emulation that Microsoft is working on, wemight see Win32 apps back on Windows 10Xmuch sooner than anticipated.Earlier build of Windows 10X

Apart from that, keep in mind, Windows 10X has a hidden menu on the Settings page that allows users to turn on “Win32 development“. I tried turning it on and forcing the Win32 layer from the Registry, but it didn’t work. Most probably, in a later release, Microsoft might offer an option to users if they want to use proper desktop apps, they can turn on Win32 support.

All said and done, it’s amply clear thatWin32 apps will definitely cometo Windows 10X and it will be the best feature on the platform. So stay tuned with us and we will let you know all the ways you can access your favorite desktop apps on Windows 10X.

As we all know, Windows 10X is a web-oriented OS and prioritizes web apps over UWP or other native apps. So if you want to be productive on Windows 10X then you need toembrace Web Apps. Web Apps are also called PWAs — Progressive Web Apps — which mean they will work just like native apps.

Web Apps have their dedicated windows, they come with notification support, can run on startup, and also some have offline support. To install a web app, open the website and simplyclick on the “Install” buttonon the address bar. The app will show up in the App Launcher and you can also pin it to the Taskbar.

The best feature of Windows 10X is surely the fast update mechanism that we have already seen on Chrome OS and Android. Unlike Windows 10 where you have to wait for 30-60 minutes to install an update, on Windows 10X, it will be just amatter of a few seconds.

It will use a separate partition to install updates while you are using your deviceand will switch the active boot slot after a reboot. No need to wait for the installation. Apart from that, Windows 10X is using the Full Flash Update (FFU) system to install updates which will significantly reduce installation time.

Security is one of the best features of Windows 10X. We know how proneWindows 10 is to attacks by virusandmalware programs. But that is not the case with Windows 10X.Whatever happens on 10X is sandboxedand isolated from the core operating system and user partition.

This way, rogue programs can’t touch your files and you will remain on the safer side. As for web protection, Windows 10Xcomes with Windows Securitythat protects you on the web from harmful extensions, phishing websites, and more.

Not many know this, but Windows 10X is not a watered-down version of Windows 10. Instead, Windows 10X is acompletely new OS writtenfrom scratch and shares the base ofWindows Core OS (WCOS). You can say that WCOS is one of the best — if not the best — features of Windows 10X.

The reason that you getfaster updates, security improvementslike sandboxing, and quick mobile-desktop UI is because of Windows Core OS. Microsoft developed WCOS so that it can create different flavors of Windows operating systems using its modular components.

Find All the New Windows 10X Features

So these are the best features of Windows 10X that are currently available. As I mentioned above, the most anticipated feature is Win32 app support and I am sure, it will arrive much sooner than later. Apart from that, Windows 10X has many UI improvements so go ahead and run it on your PC to have a new experience. Anyway, that is all from us. If you found the article helpful then comment down below and let us know.

Passionate about Windows, ChromeOS, Android, security and privacy issues. Have a penchant to solve everyday computing problems.